# Accident 19960321011999A: Beech F33A, Praire City, SD, March 21, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 21, 1996, 18:40 local time
- Place: Praire City, SD
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.5303° N, 102.8004° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5303&lon=-102.8004&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5563X, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5563X-1997-03-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech F33A (registry code 1151425, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-f33a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH F33A
- Reported engine: CONT IO520BB
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 12,500 total, 774 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI96FA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96FA133) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960321011999A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4)THE AIRPLANE AND PILOT HAD BEEN MISSING FOR ABOUT 30 DAYS AFTER DEPARTING ON A LATE AFTERNOON CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. WEATHER DURING THE FLIGHT WAS MARGINAL VFR. THE SURFACE ANALYSIS CHARTS SHOWED A COLD FRONT IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT SITE.  THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE EXAMINATION REVEALED NO ANOMALIES THAT WOULD PREVENT FLIGHT.  THE AIRPLANE'S ATTITUDE INDICATOR'S GYRO ROTOR AND CASE HAD ROTATIONAL SCARING.  THE PILOT'S SON STATED HIS FATHER HAD COMPLAINED TO HIM ABOUT BEING VERY FATIGUED ABOUT 24 HOURS BEFORE THE FLIGHT.  HE SAID HIS FATHER WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT NOT HAVING ENOUGH ENERGY TO MAKE THE FLIGHT.  THE SON SAID HIS FATHER HAD A HABIT OF FALLING ASLEEP WHEN HE WAS FATIGUED.                                                 (-23) ON MARCH 21, 1996, AT ABOUT 1840 MST, A BEECH F33A, N5563X, PILOTED BY A PRIVATE PILOT, COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (VMC) PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS NOT OPERATING ON A FLIGHT PAN. THE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED MALTA, MONTANA, AT 1655 MST. THE AIRPLANE WAS REPORTED MISSING BY THE PILOT'S FAMILY AT 2230 MST ON MARCH 21, 1996. THE AIRPLANE WAS DISC OVERED AT 1800 MST ON APRIL 15, 1996.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI96FA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96FA133), Mar 22, 1996: Beech F-33A (N5563X), Prairie City, SD, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane. A factor was pilot fatigue.

## Other reports on N5563X (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19900603031129I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900603031129I), Jun 3, 1990: Beech F33A (N5563X), Fort Collins, CO, Minor damage. Almost landed gear up. Go around made as propeller tips struck runway. Landed safely on second try.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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